The Mysterines, Band on the Wall. 30th March 2022

The Mysterines are out in support of their stunning debut album ‘Reeling’. They felt exciting and a bit raw last time I saw them, but just a few months on, they’re already flexing a more polished but no less exciting sound. The new record has had its comparisons to Hole and that’s fair enough. Lia Metcalfe’s deep vocals do remind me a little of Courtney Love. The whole sound tips a hat to grunge and America in general. I often think this of Liverpool bands, they have a more open sound than their more landlocked contemporaries in my beloved Manchester. Maybe it’s looking out across the water to America that does it. Sorry to any Irish readers troubled by my suggestion of looking past the emerald isles. They’re not a one trick pony though and this isn’t nostalgia. You’re as likely to pick up plenty of PJ Harvey in the slower more brooding songs like ‘Under the Skin’. Maybe not as much as support Fräuline though, who sadly I’m not in early enough to catch, but highly recommend having a listen to if you like Polly. Back to The Mysterines though. When Metcalfe really let’s loose, fucking hell she’s powerful. As good as the record is, you really have to hear it live. She’s a force of nature that’s quite something to be in the room with, especially a small room. Which brings me to tonight’s venue. This is my first visit to the recently reopened and refurbished Band on the Wall. I’ve always loved this room, but they really have done a wonderful job. Despite having more space, it still feels intimate and the sound as always is stunning. This is where the rest of The Mysterines come in to play. I always feel a little sorry for other band members when they’ve got such dominance at the front of the stage, but they’re not making up the numbers. These songs and those vocals need something chunky behind them and boy do they deliver. Deploying ‘In Your Head’ early, they mean business. It sounds so fucking heavy, the venue might be worried about their lovely new speakers. Even title track ‘Reeling’ with its steady stomp sounds huge. Partly down to whoever has mic’d the drum kit and has set all the dials to PULVERISE. Paul Crilly sounding like a fucking monster. Metcalfe grabs her acoustic for ‘On The Run’ and Callum Thompson gets to test his desert tinged slide guitar. It’s the perfect example of just how versatile they are, whilst still having that core sound. I really can’t do this lot justice. For a little over an hour they belt through a note perfect set that feels truly unique. If you’ve caught them on this tour, count yourself lucky to witness an already great band right at the start of something special. There’s still a few dates left too, for gods sake buy a ticket, you won’t be sorry, I promise. The encore sees Metcalfe go solo for ‘Still Call You Home’, before the singer from Fräuline (sorry I don’t know her name) joins her for a striped back version of ‘Be My Baby’ that brings the expected audience singalong. The rest of the band return and smash into ‘Hung Up’ and it sounds massive. The prefect closer to a perfect set. Brilliant!!